Fattman to challenge Moore for state senate

State Rep. Ryan C. Fattman, a Webster Republican, said Friday he will challenge veteran Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, in the November election.

Mr. Fattman, 29, is in his second House term. He has built a reputation as a fiscal and social conservative and critic of the administration of Gov. Deval L. Patrick. This week he emerged as the lead author of a letter demanding that Mr. Patrick fire the head of the Department of Children and Families, Olga Roche.

Mr. Moore, 70, president pro tempore of the Senate, is serving his ninth Senate term after serving 17 years in the House; he is known as a socially conservative and fiscally moderate Democrat. He announced Thursday he is running for re-election.

In an interview, Mr. Fattman said he met with Mr. Moore last week at the Statehouse and informed him he would be mounting a challenge.

Mr. Fattman said that while he and the incumbent largely share conservative social views such as opposition to abortion rights, the campaign will be fought over fiscal issues.

"I like him as a person and he's a good guy with a good sense of humor, but too often the joke is on us, the taxpayers," Mr. Fattman said.

Mr. Fattman criticized Mr. Moore's votes in the Senate last year for a $500 million tax hike and to tie an increase in the gas tax to inflation.

"A lot of the debate will be on those kinds of votes, those kinds of issues," Mr. Fattman said. "I believe in the principle of no taxation without representation. He believes in taxation tied to inflation."

Mr. Fattman knocked Mr. Moore's vote against a bill that would require all residents who receive state services to possess a valid Social Security number.

"That's not very conservative in my mind," he said.

Mr. Fattman also noted that he does not accept per-diem payments for daily travel to the Statehouse, while Mr. Moore does.

Mr. Fattman said he has about $103,000 in his campaign account.

Mr. Moore had $131,371 as of the end of last year.

Mr. Fattman said he plans a formal campaign announcement April 15, tax filing day, and will soon release a one-minute campaign video.

The Worcester and Norfolk Senate District includes, in addition to Webster and Uxbridge, Blackstone, Douglas, Dudley, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millville, Oxford, Southbridge, Sutton, two precincts of Northbridge, and Bellingham.

Contact Shaun Sutner at ssutner@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @ssutner.